SPUC have expressed relief as attempts to hijack the Domestic Abuse bill to decriminalise abortion and permanently legalise dangerous home abortions failed today in Parliament. However, SPUC also expressed concern about an announcement by Minister Victoria Atkins that the Government would be holding a consultation into making the temporary provisions on home abortions during the pandemic permanent.

New Clause 29 , which sought to repeal sections 58 and 59 of the Offences Against the Person Act and so remove abortion from the criminal law, was not chosen by the Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle.

New Clause 28 which sought to make home abortions legal for domestic abuse victims, was selected for debate but was withdrawn by Diana Johnson MP when it became clear it did not have support.

Alithea Williams, SPUC Political Assistant said: “SPUC urged supporters to ask their MPs to make it clear to the Speaker that decriminalising abortion was outside the scope of this bill, and indeed that’s what he found. It is great news that this unrelated, opportunistic amendment, which would have removed all remaining protection from unborn children, was not given any parliamentary time.

“The collapse of New Clause 28 is also a huge relief. If this amendment had passed vulnerable women would be exposed to a greater risk of coerced abortion.

“It was revealed yesterday that abortion providers are not making even basic checks when they certify women for abortion over the phone under the current remote abortions regime,” she went on. “It is therefore a huge relief that this situation will not be made permanent the most vulnerable women, victims of domestic abuse.

“However, the announcement of a consultation on making the temporary home abortions regime permanent is very concerning. We have already seen ample evidence that this practise is impossible to regulate, and is not safe for women, especially the most vulnerable.  A consultation will not lessen the dangers of DIY abortions.”

Miss Williams concluded: “SPUC supporters up and down the country lobbied hard to defeat these amendments today. We will be mobilising them again to respond to this consultation and do all we can to make sure that dangerous home abortions do not continue. We have too much experience of Government consultations on pro-life matters which result in little evidence that pro-life concerns have been heard. But we will continue to make our voices heard – lives are at stake.”